BigBadStang
02-11-2010, 07:44 AM
"We’ve been anxiously waiting for Ford to unveil details on the new GT500. While the 2011 Mustang GT got an all new engine, details regarding the GT500 model were surprisingly mum. But no more. Ford has finally lifted the veil on its ultimate performance machine, and the Blue Oval has listened to the people, granting them many of the improvements they had long clamored for.
Autoblog was on hand for the official unveiling, which included the announcement that the GT500 has shed 120 pounds of weight while gaining 10 horsepower over the 2010 version.
The biggest change is one we already knew about from leaked order forms; the aluminum engine block. Making the change to the aluminum block represents a big step up for the GT500, which many automotive outlets derided as nose-heavy and a poor handler. The new block is 102 pounds lighter than the 2010 iron block (which was used because Ford realizes many people race the hell outta these cars). The other 18 pounds in weight savings came from lighter wheels that are part of the SVT performance package.
The new aluminum block engine gained 10 horsepower over the 2010 model thanks in large part to a bigger intercooler and headers borrowed from the 5.0 engine. SVT also figured out a way to stiffen up the convertible, making it a more capable performance model rather than just a cruiser. The lighter weight has helped the 2011 GT500 drop as much as three seconds off its lap times at a certain track, and it even managed to up its fuel economy to 15 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. That means for 2011, the GT500 avoids the dreaded $1,000 “gas guzzler tax”."
Autoblog was on hand for the official unveiling, which included the announcement that the GT500 has shed 120 pounds of weight while gaining 10 horsepower over the 2010 version.
The biggest change is one we already knew about from leaked order forms; the aluminum engine block. Making the change to the aluminum block represents a big step up for the GT500, which many automotive outlets derided as nose-heavy and a poor handler. The new block is 102 pounds lighter than the 2010 iron block (which was used because Ford realizes many people race the hell outta these cars). The other 18 pounds in weight savings came from lighter wheels that are part of the SVT performance package.
The new aluminum block engine gained 10 horsepower over the 2010 model thanks in large part to a bigger intercooler and headers borrowed from the 5.0 engine. SVT also figured out a way to stiffen up the convertible, making it a more capable performance model rather than just a cruiser. The lighter weight has helped the 2011 GT500 drop as much as three seconds off its lap times at a certain track, and it even managed to up its fuel economy to 15 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. That means for 2011, the GT500 avoids the dreaded $1,000 “gas guzzler tax”."